Device for the tilting of the folding blade of a folding-blade cylinder

ABSTRACT

Folding cylinders for handling the product of a printing press or the like in which a tucker blade in one of the cylinders engages the web, or associated webs, for tucking into an opposedly phased jaw or groove in the other cylinder, the blade being mounted in the blade cylinder for timed rocking movement about an axis which lies approximately on, or somewhat outside of, the rolling circle so that the blade, and particularly the edge thereof, moves into the jaw cylinder in a direction radially of the jaw cylinder. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the blade is guided in its rocking movement along arcuate track of slightly non-circular or oval contour so that the center of rocking movement is constantly varied in accordance with the angle of rocking, shifting outwardly of the rolling circle as the blade is rocked from neutral position.

tlnited States Patent 91 Greiner et al.

[In amt-9w [451 Apr. 17, 1973 [5 1 DEVICE FOR THE TILTHNG 0E "rm FOLDINGBLADE OF A FOLDING- BLADE (:YLINDER [75] Inventors: Harry M. Greiner,Offenbach; Karl Langer, Heusentamm, both of Germany [73] Assignee:Roland Offsetmaschinenfabrik Faber & Schleicher AG, Offenbach am Main,Germany [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 83,435

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 4, 1969 Germany ..P 19 55351.6

[52] US. Cl ..270/71 [51] Int. Cl. ..B6Sh 45/16 [58] Field of Search..270/7072, 74-77, 73

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,124,349 3/1964 Huffman..270/73 1,870,544 8/1932 Wood ..270/72 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS984,334 2/1965 Great Britain ..270/70 Primary Examiner-Robert W. MichellAssistant ExaminerA. Heinz Attorney-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit &Osann, Ltd.

[ ABSTRACT Folding cylinders for handling the product of a printingpress or the like in which a tucker blade in one of the cylindersengages the web, or associated webs, for tucking into an opposedlyphased jaw or groove in the other cylinder, the blade being mounted inthe blade cylinder for timed rocking movement about an axis which liesapproximately on, or somewhat outside of, the rolling circle so that theblade, and particularly the edge thereof, moves into the jaw cylinder ina direction radially of the jaw cylinder. In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention the blade is guided in its rocking movement along arcuatetrack of slightly noncircular or oval contour so that the center ofrocking movement is constantly varied in accordance with the angle ofrocking, shifting outwardly of the rolling circle as the blade is rockedfrom neutral position.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 1 11m v sum 1 [1F 2 In vsu'ronsHARRY M. Gee/-52 10am. LANGER PATENTED APR 1 71973 SHEET 2 [1F 2INVENTDRS HARRY M. Gee/-51? KARI. LANGER I o%ZIM WNW Ari-vs.

DEVICE FOR THE TILTING OF THE FOLDING BLADE OF A FOLDING-BLADE CYLINDERIn the tucking of a web into a jaw cylinder to form a fold it isdesirable for the blade to travel at the speed of the jaw and to moveinto and out of the jaw with substantially pure radial movement. Where ablade is fixedly mounted on the blade cylinder and extends beyond therolling circle, the tip of the blade will necessarily rotate at aperipheral speed which is greater than the speed of the jaw at therolling circle. This produces relative lateral movement of the bladewith respect to the jaw during the tucking operation which tends to tearthe web, particularly when operating at high speed.

To alleviate this situation and to tend to cause the tip of the blade tomove at a speed which is more nearly matched to the speed of the jaw, ithas been proposed, for example, in Loase US. Pat. No. 2,819,068 whichissued on Jan. 7, 1958, to mount the tucker blade on a beam whichextends endwise in the tucker blade cylinder and which is provided withaligned stubshafts or trunnions, at its ends which are fitted intosuitable bearings in the cylinder end plates. Linkage is disclosed insuch patent for cyclically rocking the beam so that the edge of theblade tends to be relatively slowed to more nearly match the peripheralvelocity of the jaw cylinder during the tucking operation. Unfortunatelythe mechanism disclosed in such patent has certain inherent drawbacksfrom a mechanical point of view. Even more importantly the motion of theblade is not optimum. Since the rocking axis of the blade is spacedinside the periphery of the rolling circle it is impossible for theblade to be inserted into the jaw cylinder with pure radial motion.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide atucker blade mounting arrangement which provides for timed rocking ofthe tucker blade, not about an axis which lies inside of the bladecylinder, but rather about an axis which lies at, or outside of, therolling circle. It is a general object of the present invention toprovide a tucker blade mount which enables the body of the blade, aswell as the leading edge thereof, to move into the jaw cylinder along aradial path, substantially avoiding relative lateral movement of theblade during the tucking operation and avoiding any tendency to tear theweb or webs incident to tucking even when operated at extremely highdelivery speed.

It is an object of the invention in its preferred form to provide arocking mount for a tucker blade in which the axis of rocking shiftswithin the blade outside of the rolling circle during the course ofrocking movement. It is a general object to provide a mounting for atucker blade which is capable of precise operation at a high cyclic ratebut which is nevertheless extremely durable and long-lived, requiring aminimum of care or main.- tenance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the attached detail description and upon reference to thedrawings in which:

FIG. I is a diagramatic end view of a folder consisting of blade and jawcylinders and in which the blade mounting and guiding means incorporatesthe present invention, looking along the line ll in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows the near end only of the blade cylinder and looking alongthe line 22 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view looking along the line 3--3 inFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary edgewise view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4a is a fragment based on FIG. 1 and showing the web being tuckedinto the jaw cylinder.

FIGS. Sa-Se are a set of stop motion views showing the blade about toenter the jaw cylinder and successive positions occupied by the bladeuntil it reaches the point of exit.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to be limited tothe particular embodiment shown but intend on the contrary to cover thevarious alternative and equivalent constructions included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, the folder includes a tucker bladecylinder 10 of hollow or open construction, having a central shaft 11,cooperating with a jaw cylinder 12 having a shaft 13. An appropriatedrive is provided for rotating the shafts 1 l, 13 in timed relation withone another to produce a speed, at the periphery or rolling circle,equal to the lineal speed of a web 15, or group of associated webs, fedfrom a printing press. As the web 15 moves between the cylinders it isengaged by a tucker blade 20 on the cylinder 10 which causes the web tobe forced into a groove or jaw 21 in the jaw cylinder, which groove orjaw is defined by a shoulder 22 on one side and by a series of grippers23, only one of which is shown, on the other. The grippers are, as isconventional, mounted upon a longitudinally extending shaft 24 whichundergoes rocking movement (by means not shown) for timed gripping andrelease of the folded product.

The blade 20 is received in the right edge of a beam 30 which extendswithin, and longitudinally of, the blade cylinder and which has anaxially projecting end portion 31. For the purpose of rocking the beamabout a longitudinally extending axis, the beam is pinned at 32 to alink 33 having a connection 34 with a crank arm 35 which is fixedlymounted with respect to a longitudinally extending shaft 36. The shaftis mounted for rocking movement in suitable bearings (not shown) in theblade cylinder. At the end of the shaft 36 is a crank arm 37, also fixedto the shaft, which has a cam follower roller 38. The roller engages theperiphery of a cam $0, the profile of which is shown in FIG. 1, andwhich is not rotatable with the blade cylinder but which is fixedadjacent the cylinder to the frame plate 14 by any suitable means, forexample, an annular spacer member 41. A spring 42 which is preferablybut not necessarily connected to the pin 32 in the beam removes any lostmotion in the linkage and maintains the cam follower roller seated, orbottomed, on the cam 40. It will be seen, then, that as the cylinderrotates the cam follower roller 38, following the profile of the cam 40,will impart rocking movement to shaft 36 which via crank 35 and link 33,will produce cyclical rocking of the beam 30 and the blade 20 which ismounted on it. It will be understood that an identical crank 35 and link33 are provided at the opposite end of the beam 30 so that the beam willbe equally driven,

outer periphery, of the blade cylinder 10. More particularly inaccordance with the invention the beam 30 is mounted for movement in anarcuate track the center of which lies at or outside of the rollingcircle of the blade cylinder. Thus, referring to the drawings, a guidemember 50 is provided having mounting surfaces 51 and an axiallypresented surface 52, the latter being formed with an arcuate track orgroove 53. Mounted on the axial projection 31 at the end of the beam andsnuggly fitted in the arcuate groove 53 are a pair of rollers S4, 55which are laterally spaced from one another to occupy spaced positionsin the groove. The rollers,

acting together, act as a track follower. To position the beam endwise,the guide member 50 is formed with an axially facing edge 56 whichengages the side of an auxiliary roller 57 which is mounted on theportion 31 of the beam. For supporting the guide member 50 a bracket orsupporting plate 60 is used having a mounting portion in the form of acollar 61 which is secured by a pin 62 to the shaft 11. At its outeredge the bracket plate 60 is tapped to receive screws 63 which serve toclamp the guide member in its operating position. Preferably a similarguide member 50 having a matching arcuate groove 53 and mating rollers54, 55 and a similar bracket plate 60 are provided, in mirror image, atthe opposite end of the beam 30 so that the beam is supported to equaldegree at both of its ends. It will be apparent that when service isrequired the screws 63 may be unscrewed permitting the entire beamassembly to be lifted out of the blade cylinder in the radial direction.

In accordance with one of the more detailed aspects of the presentinvention the arcuate track or groove 53 in the guide member is notperfectly circular but is of reduced curvature at the ends and thusslightly of oval shape. Specifically the track has a curvature over itscentral portion which is in the blade, and centered at the rollingcircle, but has a curvature at its ends which is centered in theextended portion of the blade at an axis which is spaced outwardly fromthe rolling circle. Thus, as the beam rocks backwardly and forwardly onits rollers in the arcuate groove 53, the center of rocking movementconstantly shifts: When the beam is rocked to its extreme upper positionthe radius of curvature is maximum and the center of movement lies inthe blade beyond the rolling circle. Then, as the beam rocks downwardly,toward its neutral position, the radius of curvature progressivelydecreases, with the center of curvature progressively shifting radiallyinward. By the time that the beam is in its neutral position, the centerof rocking movement is at the rolling circle. The use of a pair ofspaced rollers 54, 55 snuggly fitted in the track or groove 53 insuresthat a good fit will be preserved in all positions of the beam andnotwithstanding the change in the curvature of the groove.

The functions of the track will be made clear upon considering therocking movement of the beam and 'blade in a typical tucking cycle asset forth in a series of with respect to the neutral plane which isindicated at 70. Under such conditions, because of the particular ovalcontour of the track, the radius of curvature of the track from itscenter line 71 has a value R1 and the center of curvature, C1, lies inthe blade in the region of its tip, that is, at a point spaced radiallyoutward from the rolling circle 72. It will be seen that under suchconditions the blade is radially oriented with respect to the jawcylinder for radial edgewise reception into the jaw opening 21.

Upon continued movement of the cylinders the beam is rockedincrementally downward so that the blade occupies an angle b to theneutral plane as shown in FIG. 5b, with the blade moving approximatelyhalf its total depth into the jaw cylinder. As the result of the rockingmovement between FIGS. 5a and Sb the effective radius of curvaturechanges to a value R2 and the center of curvature, lying in the blade,moves to a new center indicated at C2. It is to be noted that theorientation of the blade with respect to the jaw remains unchangedduring this movement, with the blade continuing to enter the jaw along aperfectly radial path.

Upon still further movement of the cylinders, accompanied by rocking ofthe beam and blade to neutral position, the blade becomes fully insertedand the beam moves into the central region of the arcuate groove. Herethe radius of curvature, indicated at R3, is a minimum being centered inthe blade at point C3 which lies on the rolling circle.

As the cylinders rotate still further into the position shown in FIG.5d, the blade begins to retract and the radius of curvature is againincreased to an amount indicated at R4 having a center C4. Finally thepoint is reached where the tip of the blade clears the jaw 21 asindicated at FIG. 5e, with the beam being angled downwardly, and theknife angled upwardly, to maximum degree. This corresponds to thecondition of curvature R5 centered at point C5.

The amount and rate of rocking movement during retraction of the blademay be equal, in mirror image, to that during insertion of the blade sothat the blade may be retracted perfectly radially with respect to thejaw cylinder along a symmetrically cycloidal path and with the sameradial orientation as during insertion. However it will be appreciatedby one skilled in the art that it is the maintenance of radial positionduring insertion which is the important thing; thus retraction need notbe a mirror image ofinsertion.

It may be noted as one of the features of the invention in its preferredaspect that the center of rocking movement of the blade not only shiftswithin the blade during the course of insertion but that the center ofrocking of the blade tends to follow the periphery, or rolling circle,of the jaw cylinder. Thus it will be noted that the centers of curvatureC1, C2 and C3 all lie at, or adjacent to, the periphery 73 of the jawcylinder. Since the blade, during the tucking operation, maintains aradial orientation centered with respect to the jaw, the bladenecessarily maintains a velocity equal to the peripheral velocity of thejaw. Other than the radial tucking motion, there is no relative movementof the blade in the jaw, that is, movement in line with the run of theweb, so that excess stressing of the web, with resultant tearing, isavoided.

Because of the roller-and-groove connections at the end of the beam andsince the curvature of the arcuate guide does not change to any greatdegree, the beam rocks smoothly between its extreme positions. Theweight of the beam may, of course, be compensated by counterweightingand the cylinder may be statically and dynamically balanced with thebeam in its neutral position. Considering the fact that the range ofmove ment of the beam is limited, balance is largely maintained duringthe operating cycle so that the cylinders may operate rapidly withoutharmful vibration. Because of the simplicity of the beam mounting andthe linkage which rocks the beam, the structure is inherently strong anddurable, as well as economical to construct and maintain, permittingoperation for long periods of time at minimum cost and with minimum careor attention. While the invention in its preferred form employsvariation in the curvature of the track it will be understood that theinvention broadly includes the provision of guide means for the beamwhich produces rocking of the blade about a center passing through theblade at a point which is at or adjacent to the rolling circle of theblade cylinder; therefore, a track of constant radius may be employedwith a unitary track follower, if desired, without departing from theinvention. Also, while the track'53 is stationary and the rollers 54, 55are mounted on the beam, it will be apparent that this is not essentialto practicing the invention and that the track may be formed on the beamengaged by a pair of rollers which are relatively stationary. In eitherevent it will be understood that the length of the track shall besufficient to accomodate the desired angle of rocking. Also, if desired,the amplitude of rocking movement of the beam may be somewhat less thanthat shown in FIGS. 5a 5e provided that the leading edge of the bladeenters along a radial path. What we claim is:

1. In a folding mechanism for folding a web including a frame, a tuckerblade cylinder having a, generally radially extended tucker blade and acooperating jaw cylinder having a receiving jaw, means for rotating thecylinders in the frame in phase so that the 'blade cyclically tucks theweb into the jaw and then retracts from the jaw during successiverotations of the cylinders, a beam extending within the cylinder formounting the blade, guide means for guiding the beam and blade thereonfor rocking movement with respect to the blade cylinder to change theangle of the blade, said guide means including an arcuate track andtrack follower, the arcuate track having a central portion andterminating in end portions and approximately centered on an axispassing through the blade adjacent the rolling circle of the bladecylinder, a cam stationarily mounted with respect to the frame andarranged coaxially with the blade cylinder, and linkage means coupled tothe beam and including a cam follower riding on the cam for cyclicallyrocking the beam so that the blade enters the jaw substantially radiallywith respect to the latter and at a peripheral speed which issubstantially equal to the peripheral speed of the jaw thereby tominimize stressing of the web.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the guide track isfixed with respect to the blade cylinder and in which the track followeris secured to the end of the beam.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which the track follower isin the form of a pair of rollers projecting axially from the beam andspaced to occupy spaced positions in the track.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the central portion ofthe arcuate track has a radius of curvature centered in the blade at therolling circle of the blade cylinder and in which the end portions ofthe arcuate track have a center of curvature centered in the extendedportion of the blade.

5. The combination as claiMed in claim l in which the track is of ovalconfiguration having a greater radius of curvature at the ends than atthe center.

6. In a folding mechanism for folding a web including a tucker bladecylinder having a generally radially extending tucker blade and acooperating jaw cylinder having a receiving jaw, means for rotating thecylinders in phase so that the blade tucks the web into the jaw and thenretracts during successive rotations of the cylinders, the tucker bladecylinder being of hollow construction and having a radially extendingsupporting member at each end, guide members secured to the supportingmembers, said guide members having a pair of mutually inwardly facingarcuate tracks, a rocking beam extending longitudinally between theguide members and totally contained within the cylinder for mounting theblade in extended position, the beam having a pair of axially orientedrollers at each end spaced from one another to occupy spaced positionsin the respective tracks, a stationary cam mounted adjacent an end ofthe blade cylinder, a cam follower mounted on the cylinder for engagingthe cam, and linkage interposed between the cam follower and the beam sothat the beam is rocked back and forth in the arcuate tracks as thecylinders revolve, the arcuate tracks being so formed that the movementof the blade is centered about an axis which lies within the blade inthe region of the rolling circle of the blade cylinder.

1. In a folding mechanism for folding a web including a frame, a tuckerblade cylinder having a generally radially extended tucker blade and acooperating jaw cylinder having a receiving jaw, means for rotating thecylinders in the frame in phase so that the blade cyclically tucks theweb into the jaw and then retracts from the jaw during successiverotations of the cylinders, a beam extending within the cylinder formounting the blade, guide means for guiding the beam and blade thereonfor rocking movement with respect to the blade cylinder to change theangle of the blade, said guide means including an arcuate track andtrack follower, the arcuate track having a central portion andterminating in end portions and approximately centered on an axispassing through the blade adjacent the rolling circle of the bladecylinder, a cam stationarily mounted with respect to the frame andarranged coaxially with the blade cylinder, and linkage means coupled tothe beam and including a cam follower riding on the cam for cyclicallyrocking the beam so that the blade enters the jaw substantially radiallywith respect to the latter and at a peripheral speed which issubstantially equal to the peripheral speed of the jaw thereby tominimize stressing of the web.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1in which the guide track is fixed with respect to the blade cylinder andin which the track follower is secured to the end of the beam.
 3. Thecombination as claimed in claim 2 in which the track follower is in theform of a pair of rollers projecting axially from the beam and spaced tooccupy spaced positions in the track.
 4. The combination as claimed inclaim 1 in which the central portion of the arcuate track has a radiusof curvature centered in the blade at the rolling circle of the bladecylinder and in which the end portions of the arcuate track have acenter of curvature centered in the extended portion of the blade. 5.The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the track is of ovalconfiguration having a greater radius of curvature at the ends than atthe center.
 6. In a folding mechanism for folding a web including atucker blade cylinder having a generally radially extending tucker bladeand a cooperating jaw cylinder having a receiving jaw, means forrotating the cylinders in phase so that the blade tucks the web into thejaw and then retracts during successive rotations of the cylinders, thetucker blade cylinder being of hollow construction and having a radiallyextending supporting member at each end, guide members secured to thesupporting members, said guide members having a pair of mutuallyinwardly facing arcuate tracks, a rocking beam extending longitudinallybetween the guide members and totally contained within the cylinder formounting the blade in extended position, the beam Having a pair ofaxially oriented rollers at each end spaced from one another to occupyspaced positions in the respective tracks, a stationary cam mountedadjacent an end of the blade cylinder, a cam follower mounted on thecylinder for engaging the cam, and linkage interposed between the camfollower and the beam so that the beam is rocked back and forth in thearcuate tracks as the cylinders revolve, the arcuate tracks being soformed that the movement of the blade is centered about an axis whichlies within the blade in the region of the rolling circle of the bladecylinder.